UNIQUE IN SUBURBIA | Heap's Giant Pumpkin Farm
- Glancer Magazine
- Sep 1, 2021
- 2 min read
PLAN A DAY OF FUN WITH THE FAMILY & HEAD TO MINOOKA
MINOOKA–Bright and cheerful. Positive and happy. Loyal and admired. These attributes are just a few that represent the significance of sunflowers. What’s not to love about this sun-loving flower? They are fun, powerful, vibrant, unique and sustainable. In fact, many cultures hold sunflowers in high regard - often representing good luck, vitality, spirituality and harvest. For our flower enthusiasts, there is one must-see, local farm that will have you swooning. It’s Heap’s Giant Pumpkin Farm in Minooka. And don’t let the name fool you! This family-run, working farm is home to Heap's Sunflower Harvest - an annual U-Pick farm-experience that has been a summertime favorite since 2018.
Heap’s Farm has been a family-owned-and-operated farm for over 150 years. Once a cattle, hog, soybean and corn farm, it continues to diversify its offerings. This fifth-generation, 160-acre farm now specializes in over 90 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, squash, mums, corn, soybeans, ornamental corn, zinnias … and, of course, sunflowers!
The farm opens its doors to the public each year, offering an assortment of family-fun activities from August-October. Other activities include: a 25-acre U-Pick pumpkin patch, corn maze (and haunted corn maze!), Milo’s Castle (a giant playground!), bean maze and hayrides. During your visit, be sure to stop by Papa Heap’s Grill for a pork burger, caramel apple and pumpkin cookie (weekends only!) - yum!
Just like sunflowers, we encourage you to ‘follow the sun’ … hope it takes you where you want to be. And perhaps that includes a joy-ride to Heap’s Farm this fall. Happy picking!
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